Powder packing machine



May 30, 1933.

R. l. BAsHFoRD POWDER PACKING MAQHINE Filed July 16, 1932 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 30, 1933- R. l., BAsHFoRD POWDER PACKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16 1932 May 30, 1933- R. l. BAsHFoRD POWDER PAQKI-NG MACHINE 4 A Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Ju'ly 1e. 1952 fvg @i-figg frm@ f M); 30; 1933- R. l. BAYSHVFRD 1,911,299 A POWDER PACKINGY MACHINE Filed Ju1y16. 1932v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Panneau-130.1933

UNITED s1-Aras PATENT OFFICE BAYIOWID I. ABABHIOBID, 0l' PHILADELPHIA, PENNBYLYANIA, ABBIGFORYTO ATLAS POWDER COIPANY.0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE rowni-:a racx'mo Escrima Application led July 16, 1932. Serial No. 622,979.

This invention relates to 'powder packing machines and more particularly to machines for packing explosive powder in shell or cartridge containers.v

6 An object of the invention is to provide l0' o ends, the device serving to substantially close one of the open ends of each shell during packin thereof.

Other obJects of t e invention will be 'aparent hereinafter. The accompanying rawings, disclose a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. In the drawing v 1y and 2 -are partial sectional and l -end elevational views, respectively, Fig. 1

80 being a section along line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5ofFig.1; Y Fig.'6 isan enlarged sectional view similarto Fig. 1;

0 of certain parte of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the-shellporting beam 12 is provided -upon which" su rting shuttle of the machine; V

10 is a ,perspective view of .one of thev ells; j 45 Fig. 11 is a partial sectional detail .view

of the shuttle; and

, Fig. 12 is a` partial sectional detail view 'of a' modication of the machine.'

InpP-atent No. 813,435, granted February u 27, 190s, a, s. B. Kimber, there is diseased not shown are constructed in accor or tamp explosive powder in shells having tle from the bottom a machine of the general type contemplated herein, the present machine being inthe nature of an improvement over the Kimber machine and being adapted to pack a articular type of explosive cartridge. y such parts ofthe machine as involve the novel features of the invention are disclosed herein, it being understood thatthe arts noe with rior art teachings, such as those of the said imber Patent.

' Referring ly to Fig. 1, the machine comprises a supporting ramework designated generally by reference character 1, which serves to support the various parts described hereinafter.

An inclined hopper 2 extending the width of the machine serves to carry t e explosive powder 3 (see Fig. 6), the owder being fed into the hopper in any suita le manner. The

to the drawings and particularhopper has at its lower end an elongated opening 4, leading into trough 5. The exp o shells and packed therein. A rotatable shaft 6 extends longitudinally through trou h l5 and carries aplurality of spaced pad es 7 sive powder moves gravitally into the trough from whence it is forced into the `which serve to stir the exgilosive powder and prevent' packing thereo in the trough and also bring the wder. to the front 0i the tamps descri hereinafter. Shaft 6 carries at one end a pulley 8 which may be driven b any 'suitable source of power through t 9. During operation of the machine, shaft is continuously rotated. 1 A removable shell-sup rting shuttle 10 holds the shell 10a in p ace, while a lurality of tamps 11, which are adapted) to Figs. 7 and 8 are detail perspective viewsenter the respective shells, tam

A Supe is'adaptedto he placed, the beam se `to support the shutereo suppo beam -13 serves to additionally supportA e shuttle, asY illustrated clearly in 1 andA 6. Beam 13 isnormally held in i operative 'position' by ropes 14 ha' counterbalanciig weightsv 15 aiached ereto.

A movableI are attached tothe 1- beamand they pass over pulleys 16 carried by the supporting frame of the machine. Rope 17` has its ends likewise attached to the supporting beam and is also attached to treadle 18, the purpose of this arrangement being to enable an operator to remove the supporting beam 13 downward into inoperative position a ainst the counterbalancing action of weig ts 15. By Steppin upon treadle 18, then, the operator is'ena led to move beam 13 downward to free shuttle 10,

permitting its removal and the insertion of a. shuttle carrying empty shells in its place. Beam 13 is rovided with slot opening 19 extendin tgerethrough, vthe urpose of which wi l be clearly understood) later.

Tamps 11 are removably carried by coupler blocks 20, which are slidably mounted vu n guide rods 21 carriedon `the underside o hopper 2. One of the tamps is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7 yand it will be noted that a removable pin 22 serves to removably attach each tamp to its coupler block, the pin extending vin an inclined position through the couplerblock and tamp, at the same time i clearing the guide rods 21.v The reason for removably attaching the tamps is to facilitate changing thereof when -it is ldesired to pack different sized shells. Each tamp carries `at'its forward end a long pin 23. Each tamp preferably comprises a metal tube 24, a flat head plug 25 inserted in one end of the tube, and a wooden rod 25a inserted in the other end. The plugs may be sweated` into the tubes or attachedV thereto in any other suitable manner. The flat surfaces of the vheads 03E plugs 25` constitute .tampinv integra surfaces. Pins 23 may be formed with 'plugs 25 or may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.v The pins are -cen' trally located with respect tothe tainping surface of plugsk 25. y 1 Actuating rods 26 are attached tocoupler i blocks 20 and lthese rods are reciprocally moved by any suitable means, such as the means illustrated in the above-mentioned Kimber patent. It is desired that the rods be actuated individually and automatically so'as to pack the proper uantit of 'explo' sive wder in each of t e she ls, the respective rods and the tamps actuated thereby ceasing to operate when their particular shells are -properly packed. The actuating mechanism which accomplishes this purposel forms no part of the presentinvention and l need not, therefore, be described herein.

Reference may be hadto the Kimber patent for a com lete disclosure yof mechanism whichis suitable for this purpose.

Tam-.ps 11 are adapted to extend through openings in guide plates 27 carried by crossbeams. These plates are removably secured to the cross-beams by spaced metal wedges 28 (see Fig. 4). Rollers 29 secured to the cross beams insure registry of the guide plate o nings. gang plate 30, through lips and shoulders of the nipples, an eifec,

tive seal is had aboutk the open ends of the shells. Gang lplate 3() is removably attached 'to its su porting beam so' as to permitfthe use of iiferent plates for varying sized shells. f

` In Figs. 9 to 11, the details of vthe shells and their support-ing shuttle are moieclear- 1y illustrate The machine is particularly adapted to pack explosive powder in a cylindrical shell having open ends. Such a shell is shown in Fig. 10, being preferably formed ,of two or more'layers of kraft, manila oi' sulphite paper or combinations of these grades of paper. 'It may however be formed of other material, such as other paper or thin cardboard. This shell forms only one part ofthe explosivel cartridge, but since the cartridge structure forms no part ofthe presentv invention, it is unnecessary to` describe the details thereof herein. It suices to state that the shell 10a serves as an envelope container for the powder. lReference may be had to copending application, Serial No. 623,651, filed July 20, 1932 for a disclosure kof apreferred form of cartridge and method of making the same.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11, the shuttle, which may be 'formed of wood, comprises a base 34, a stationary part 35, and a` movable part 36, the latter. part being hingedto the base as illustrated. The parts 35 and 36 are provided Vwith complementary recesses 37 and 38, respectively, each of the complementaryl pairs of these recesses being adapted to hold a shell, as clearly illustrated. Base 34`has a'plurality of openings 40 therein,thr ough which bushings 41 extend. These bushings are made of non-sparking metal or other suitable material such wood, fibre, etc., since their bore openings serve as guides for .pins 23, as set forth hereinafter. The circular heads 42 of the bushings are of substantially the saine diameter as v the inner diameter of shells 10a, so that the shells fit snugly over the heads of the bushings, as illustrated in Fig. 11. It fwill be apparent then that bushings 41 serve to partly close-one open end of each of the shells. The shells may be placed in and re'- moved from the shuttle in a manner which is obvious. It is co1itemplated,'of course, 'that various sized shells will be loaded 'in the' manufacture of 'various sized explosive cartridges and, therefore, the dimensions of Alll) lll 1 Vbeam 13. and is removably secured thereto f longitudinal the shuttle will vary with the particular sized shell which it is to support.

Considering now the o ration of the machine, a shuttle is first oaded with therequired number of shells and is then placed in 'the machine as. previousl explained, the operator moving beam 13 ownward to ac- `complish this operation. With beam 13 in lowered position, the shuttle may be readily l0 placed upon beam 12 in such manner that the open ends of shells a encompass their respective'nipples 31. The operator then allows beam 13 torise under the influence of weights 15 and this beam, in conjunction with beam 12, firmly holds the shuttle with its supported shells in place. At this -time,J the slot opening 19 through beam 13 is in alignment with the openings through bushings.V 41. The tamp-actuating mechanism now functions, and the tam s insert the explosive powder within the s ells and firmly pack or tam it. During this-operation, pins 23 extend t rough the shells, .bushings 41 and beam 13. The pins are of such length thatV some part thereof always extends at least artially through the powder in the shell during tamping, even when the tamps are in their rearward position. The reciprocating action of the tamps and the tamping operation thereof is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein a tamp; is illustrated in its inoperative position and is also illustrated in broken lines in its operative or tamping posiltion. The reciprocating movement of (pins 23 through thepacked powder maintains a central passage-throu h the owder and also insures a smooth sur ace o the powder in the said passage. Opening 19 is purposely -made larger than pins 23 so as to permit any slight amount of powder whichA rides -through on the pins to fall away from them P and not cause increased re free workingof the tamps.

`As previously stated, the tamps are individually operated so that as each shell becomes filled with the proper quantity of powder, the tamp ceases its operation. At this time the wder is packed 1n immovable form in the sligll and a smooth central assage through the powder is provided. r Acessation of all of thel tamps, the shuttle with its packed shells is removed from the machine and -another shuttle loaded with empty shells is inserted.

In Fig. 12, therein illustrated a modifica.'-V tion in which the pins instead ofrbeing carried by the tamps, are lixedly Vmounted. on bar 43 which extends longitudinallyof sistance to the 0 by bolts or the like. Pins 23a extend trans'-l versely of the beamV and through' the slot 19 thereof. The pins also extend' `bushings 41nd shells 10a. The

tam llaef'i thisY casepiovided with 44 adapted. u slidabiy -the powder about the pins.' While attaining receive .pins 23a during ther'tamping operation. It will be apparent that the lixed pins -will maintain the desired longitudinal as sages through the shells, the tamps pac 'ng the desired end, this modification is les desirable. than the preferred form, since it requires removal of bar 43 and the pins carried thereby when changing shuttles, and the central passage through the powder. is

not as' nicely formed as in the case of reciprocating pins.

Although only two embodiments of the machine are disclosed herein, it will be understood that other changes and modifications in the construction of the machine may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopev of the invention.

I claim: A;

1. In apparatus for packing explosive material in shells, shell supporting means, and means for tamping said material in the supported shells while maintaining central longitudinal' `passages therethrough, said last means comprising tamps adapteclI-to enter'said shells and c arrying plinsfat'the front ends thereof. i

2. In apparatus for packing/ explosive material in shells having open ends, shell supporting means adapted to partly close one 0f 'the open ends of each shell, and means for tamping said material in the supported shells while substantially completely closing said one end of each shell and maintaining c e n t r a l longitudinal passages through the shells, said last means comprising tamps adapted to enter said shells and` carrying pins atvthe front ends thereof, said `pins extending into and filling the unclosed ortion of the partly closed open ends durlng the tamping.

3. In apparatus for packing explosive material in shells, a shell-supporting shut' tle, a plurality of reciprocally operable tamps adapted tov enter said shells to pack Y said material therein,vand means carried by said tamps formaintaining central longitudinal 'passages through said shells.

4. In apparatus for packing explosive material in shells, 'a shell-supporting shut? tle, a plurality of reciprocally operable tamps adapted to enter said'shells to pack said materlal therein, and pins carried oyV .Said tamps at the front ends thereof 'for maintaining central longitudinal passages -through said shells.'

5'.l In apparatus for packing explosive- -material in shells having open ends, a shellsend of each shell and maintaining central longitudinal passages through said shells.

6.aIn apparatus for packing explosive material in shells having o en ends, a shell- 'j supporting shuttle adapte to partly close one of the open ends of each shell, a plurality of reciprocally operable tamps adapted to ent-er said shells to ac k said material therein, and pins carrie by said tamps at 10 the front ends thereof for substantially completelyclosing said one end of each shell ,and maintaining central longitudinal passages through said shells.

In apparatus for packing explosive ma- Il terial in shells having open ends, a shell supporting shuttle ada ted to partly vclose .onev of the open ends o each shell, said shuttle having openings centrally aligned with said shells and leading into the partly closed "IQ ends thereof, a supporting beam for said shuttle having avrelatively wide slot aligned lwith said openings, a plurality of reciprocally operable tamps adapted to enter said shells to pack said material therein, and I8 pins carried by said tamps for maintaining central lon itudinal passages through-said shells,` sai pins extending' through said i openings and said slot during tamping and f lillin the openings to substantially com` I0 plete y close said one end of each shell, said slot permitting material on said pins to drop oi the same.

RAYMOND I. BASHFORD.l 

